Breech mechanjsta for guns



No. 6l9,026. Patented Feb. 7, I899.

w. s. s ms. BREEGH MECHANISM FOR GUNS.

- A umion filed Juzio 24, 1898) 5 SheetsSheet I.

(No Model.)

\ WITNESSES VEN 2r. e/

TOR

tlorney N0. 6|9,026. Patented Feb. 7, I899.

w. s. SIMS.

BREECH MECHANISM FOR GUNS.

(Application filed June 24, 1895.) N o M o d e l WITNESSES g WWW fidd,

N0. 6l9,026. Patented Feb. 7, I899.

W. S. SIMS.

BREECH MECHANISM FOR GUNS.-

(Application filed June 24, 1898.)

(No Model.)

5 Sheets-Sheet 3.

WITNESS/5S Ozwqavmze' No. 619,026. Patented Feb. 7, I899.

W. S. SIMS. BREECH MECHANISM FOR GUNS.

(Application filed June 24, 1898.) (N 0 M 0 d e l 5 Sheets-M0314.

WITNESS/TS [NVENTOR No. 6I9,026. Patented Feb. 7, I899.

' W. S. SIMS.

BREECH MECHANISM FOR GUNS.

(Application filed June 24, 189B.)

5 Sheets-Sheet 5.

(No Model.)

INVENTOR d d Newark, in the county tart ATENT three.

wmrnciln sco'r'r sins, or NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, AssIeNoR 'ro THE SIMS-DUDLEY DEFENSE COMPANY OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

BREECH MECHANISM FOR GUNS;

" ".ECIFICATION forming part'of Letters Patent N 0. 619,026, dated February 7, 1899.

Application filed June 24, 1898 To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, \VINFIELD ScoTr SIMS,Of of Essex and State of A .Tersey, have invented certain? new and useful Improvements in Breech Mechanism. for Guns; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,-,clear, and exact description of the invention, such aswill enable others skilled in the art to which it appertainsto make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in guns, and more particularly to powder pneumatic guns designed for throwing high explosives; and it consists, primarily, in certain features and details of construction of the breech mechanism, as will be more fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view in elevation of a gun embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a view in longitudinal section of the breech end of the gun. Fig. 3 is a view in elevation of the breech end'ofthe gun. Fig. 4 is asimilar view from the pposite side, showing the breech-blocks withdrawn. Fig. 5 is a view in end elevation of the breech mechanism. Fig. (5 is a View in plan of same. Fig. 7 is a similar view showing the breech-blocks withdrawn and also showing by dotted lines the breech-blocks turned to the side. Fig. 8 is a plan view of the breech-block carrier. Fig. 9 is a view of the stop-latch on said carrier. Fig. 10 is a view of the outer face of the carrier. Fig; 11 is a view showing the gearing forturning the breech-blocks. Fig. 12is aview of the breechblocks and gearing detached. Fig. 13 is an end view of thebreecb and block of the firingtn'be. Fig. 14 is a side elevation of the firingtube block. Fig. 15 is a view c. the firingpin, and Figslfl, 17, and 18 are views of the breech-mechanismcrank.

My improved gun consists of a breech C, carrying a projectile-tube B, acom'bustion tube or chamber A,-and a firing-tube E, the firing-tube E being located within the com- I bustion chamber or tube and secured to the breech C.

Connecting the'combustion and projectile tubes is the port It, located within the breech (l and at a point in rear of the muzzle end of 1 Serial 1%. 684,348. (No model.)

the firing-tube, so that the flame and gases from the firing charge pass from the firingtube into the combustion-tube and striking the closed ftliTrLJd end of the latter rebound and force out the cooler air adjacent to the port a, through said portinto the projectiletube, and, acting against the projectile, ejects same from the projectile-tube,

The breech O is open at points immediately in rear of the projectile andfiring tubes,and these openings are closed by the breech-blocks D and D, each of which is provided With interrupted threads, and as thefbreech is also provided with interrupted female threads it follows that a partial rotationof the blocks is sufficient to release the blocks, which are then free to be withdrawn by a backward pull. Each block is provided with three equidistant interruptions in is threads, and as the screws in the breech are similarly interrupted it will be seen thata one-sixth revolution of each block is sufficient to release it from its seat.

My invention r lates to the breech mechanism, and for convenience is shown in connection with myiinproved gun, whiclris more fully described in my pending application, Serial No. 683,330, filed June 13, 1598.

Mounted in a bearing'orsupport on one side of the breech O is Ihe breech-block-carrier slide G. This slide G'is adapted to move longitudinally within its support, as shown in Fig. 4, and is provided with a stop 9, which, engaging shoulders on the support, limits the outward movement of the slide. This slide carries the latch G, pivoted at g? to the slide and provided with a lip 9 adapted when the slide is in its extended position to take over the shoulders g on the breech C and prevent the slide G from being forced in, th us preven ting movement of the slide when the breechblocks are in their open position.

Journaled on the outer end of the slide G is the carrier H. This carrier is provided with a handle ll, by which the slide is moved back and forth, and is also provided witha lug h, which when the ca rier is turned to bring the breech-blocks in line with their respective seats in the breech engages the end of the latch G' and, forcing the same invm "dly against the at ion of the spring girotoo the slide to be pushed in.

. the carrier H is provided with a spring-latch H adapted to engage a notch in the slide (1 for locking the handle in line with the slide, and with a second notch for locking the bandle in the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 7. \Vith this construction the breechblocks, which are carried by-the carrier, are held against swinging movement when the blocks are withdrawn for loading and are held in proper position for entering their respective seats during the act of closing the breech of the gun.

The carrier H is simply a frame carrying the breech-blocks and the mechanism for turning the blocks and is provided centrally with a bearing h for the shaft 7L, carrying the pin-' i'on h on its inner end and the crank k on its outer end. The pinion 7L2 meshes with the toothed segments I, rigidly secured to the plates I, which latter in turn are rigidly secured to the outer faces of the breech-blocks D and D". Each breech-block is provided with a rearwardly-extending stem or shank (1 which latter passes through the plates 1 and rest in the hubs orbearings J, formed integral with the carrier. The upper breechblock D, which closes the rear, end of the projectile-tube, is secured to the carrier H by the bolt D which passes through the block.

and carrier and is locked by a nut andwasher. Secured to the inner end of this belt and against the inner face of th block D is the gascheck D, which latter. is also locked against displacement by the bolt DT-and operates to tightly seal the breechin line with the end of the projectile-tube and prevent the escape of any gases or compressed. air through the breech at this point. Thestem or shank d of the breech block D passes through its hub or bearing J and is made hollow for the reception of the firing-pin K.- The firing-pin. is provided with a-sharpened or needle-pointed'end which is adapted to be projected through an opening in the inner face of the block D and contact with the fulminate or cap on the c'artridge carried in the firing-tube E. This firing-pin is actuated by the spring K, which latter bears at one end against the rim is of the pin, near its inner end, while the opposite end of the spring rests against the shoulder It" on the stem of the breech-block.

The crank h" carries the spring-catch L, which latter engages notches in the hub in which the crank-shaft rests and locks the shaft in the two extremes of its movement.

Hence by the engagement of the catch with one notch when the breech-blocks are in their catch with the other notch when the blocks are in their unlocked positions, or before the blocks have been turned to cause the threads thereon to engage the female threads in the breech, the blocks cannot be turned without leases the lip g from the shoulder and allows first deliberately disengaging or releasing the The handle 11' of catch, which, as before stated, locks the shaft 1!" against movement.

From the foregoing it willhe seen that by releasing the catch L and turning the crank h a part revolution the pinion on the crankshaft, engaging the segments on the breechv blocks, turns both breech-blocks in a position to disengage the threads thereon from the threads on the breech, and when this is accomplished the blocks are free to be withdrawn. By now grasping the handle H and pulling thereon the slide carrying the breechbioeks is withdrawn, carrying with it the breech-blocks, and when the latter are clear of the gun the handle'is swung around, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 7, so as to remove .the breech-blocks to-one side, and thus permit of the quick introduction of the projectile and thefiring charge or cartridge.

After the projectile and cartridge have been placed in their respective tubes the handle is first turned so as to bring the blocks in line with their respective tubes and is then pushed home, and by turning the crank 71,3 back to its normal position the breech-blocks are locked.

The firing-pin K, which has been heretofore referred to,'is provided with a feather 7& which slides in a groove 7, in the stem of the blockD for the purpose of preventing any independent rotary motion of the breechblock and firing-pin. Hence when the breechblock isaotated the fi'ring-pinis rotated. The firing-pin is provided with a transverse slot W, in which the trigger M enters when the firing-pin is draws-r to a cooked position. This trigger is mounted in the hub J, carrying the stem of the block D, and is held with its inner end in contact with the firing-pin by the spring m. The firipg-pin also passes through the stem or shank of the block D, and in order to permit the block to have -a rocking or rotary motion, before described, the opening through which the trigger passes is necessarily elongated, as shown in Figs. 13 and ll.

Secured in the end of hub J of block I) are the 'pins N. These 'pins have slightlybeveled ends, which enter corresponding recesses formed in the inner face of the cap N of the firing-pin li As the hub'is stationary and as the tiring-pin turns with its block D, it will be seen that while the firing-pin is in its normal position it is impossible to,

turn the breech-blocks Hence in order to load or reload the gun it is first necessary to ,withdraw the firing-pin to its cocked po'sition. This diseugages the pins -N from the firing-pin and leaves the blocks free to be, turned by the mechanism already described. The same is true in closing the breech, as the blocks cannot bO llll'llWl to be either locked or released until the firing-pin has been cocked.

This construeliou removeshn element of danger which would be prescnl il" tlieln'eecliblock could bo'l'oreed home with the liringpin in eontart with the perri ssioireap oi' the same from the firing-tube by the withdrawal; of the breech-block from its seat.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the parts are so constructed and arranged that the breech-blocks are inserted and removed simultaneously, thus enabling the gun to be readily and quickly handled. Again, the construction is such that until the breech-blocks are screwed home the firing-pin is held out of the reach of the cartridge, thus preventing accidents by the premature explosion of th firing charge.

It is evident that many slight changes might be resorted to in the relative arrangement of parts herein shown and described Without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. Hence I would have it understood that I do not wish to confine myself to the exact construction of parts herein shown and described; but,

IIavin g fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. in a powder pneumatic gun, the combination with a combustion-tube and a projectile-tube, of two breech-blocks, one for closing the breech of each tube, and means for simultaneously actuating both of said blocks.

2. In a powder pneumatic gun, the combination with a combustion-tube and a projectile-tube, of a carrier, a breech-block for each tube on said carrier and means for simultaneously actuating said blocks.

In a powder pneumatic gun, the combination with a combustion-tube and a project iletube, of a carrier adapted to move rearwardly and laterally, two breech-blocks on said carrier, and means for simultaneously rotating said breechblocks.

i. In a powder pneumatic gun, the combination with a combustion-tube and a projectile-tube, of a rearwardly and laterally movable carrier, means for locking the carrier against lateral movement, two breech-blocks on said carrier and means for simultaneously rotating said blocks.

5. In a powder pneumatic gun, the combination with a combustion tube or chamber, and a projectile-tube, of a rearwardly and laterally movable carrier, means for limiting said rearward movemen t, means for look ing the carrier at the end of said rearward movement, two breech-blocks on said carrier and means for simultaneously rotating said breech-blocks.

6. In a powder pneumatic gun, the combination with-a combustion-tube and a project ile-tube, of a rearwardly and laterally movable carrier, means for locking said carrier at its limit of rearward movement, means for locking it against lateral movement, two breech-blocks and means for simultaneously rotating said blocks.

7. The combination with a breech and com bustion-tube and a projectile-tube secured to said breech, of a slide mounted on the breech-, a carrier journaled to said slide and two breech-blocks carried by said carrier.

8. The combination-with a breech, and a combustion-tube and a projectile-tube secured to said breech, of a slide mounted on the breech, a carrier jourhaled to said slide, a

blocks carried by said carrier.

9. The combination with a breech, and a combustion-tube and a projectile-tube secured to said breech, of a slide mounted on said breech, a carrier journaled to the slide, two breech-blocks mounted on the carrier and means for simultaneously rotating the breechblocks.

10. The combination with, a breech and a combustion-tube and a projectile-tube secured to said breech, of a carrier mounted on i the breech, two breech-blocks on the carrier, a crank shaft and means connecting the are rotated simultaneously.

11. The combination with a breech, and a combustion-tube and projectile-tube secured to said breech, of a carrier, two breech-blocks carried by said carrier, a crank-shaft journaled in said carrier, means for locking said shaft against rotation and means connecting said shaft and blocks whereby the shaft and both blocks are rotated simultaneously.

12. The combination with a breech, and a combustiomtube and. a projectile-tube secured to said breech, of a slide mounted on the breech, a spring-latch for locking the slide at the extreme of its rear movement, a carrier journaledou said slide, two breech -blocks mounted on said carrier and means for simultaneously rotating both breech-blocks.

13. The combination with a breech,a breechblock carrier and a breech-block, of a firingpin carried by the breech-block and means for preventing rotation of the breech-block while the firing-pin is in an uncooked position.

14:. The combination witha brecch,a breech block carrier, and a breech-block, of a firingpin mounted in the breech-block and conmeans for locking the breech-block against rotation while the firing-pin is in an uncooked position.

handle secured to the carrier and two breechcrank-shaft and breech-blocks whereby they nected thereto so as to revolve therewith, and

- '16. The eolnbinetion with a breech,abreechleek carrier and ahreech-block mounted in the eerrier, of a sliding firing-pin mounted in the breech-block, and pins or lugs on the carrier engaging recesses in the head of the firing-pin, whereby the breech-block can be rotated, only When the said pins or lugs and recesses are disengaged.

17. The combination with a breech, a slide thereon and e carrier jonrneled on the slide, of two breech-blocks mounted on the carrier, 3, firing-pin carried by one breech-block, t shaft jonrnaied in the carrier, gearing connecting the shaft and breech-blocks where by the letter arerotated simultaneously and means for preventing rotation of the breech blocks when the firing-pin is in an uncooked position. v

18. The combination with a combustiontnbe chamber, a firing-tube therein, a projectile-tube and a port connecting the combustion tube or chamber and the projectiletube, of a carrier, two breech-blocks thereon, one for closing the breech: of the projectiietube and the other for closing the breech of the combustion tube or chamber and firingtube, 2t shaft journaled to said carrier and means connecting said shaft and breechblocks'whereby they are rotated simuitene: ously. 9

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. r v

'WINFIELD SCOTT SIMS,

Witnesses: L. B.' Ln VAKE, E. R..LE VAKE. 

